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Not every dog does ok with black hawk - pretty sure some dogs are allergic to some of the stuff that goes in like maybe "emu oil" or whatever.

Mine does ok and she likes it. Nutritionally it could be the same as supercoat I suppose but I don't want to support a Nestles brand if I can avoid it.

Anyone who suggests I should feed Hills Science diet - I make them read the ingredients to me and starting with the first one - explain why that is good for my dog (it isn't). I had a vet nurse try to tell me that hills science chicken and rice was better than chicken and rice I cooked up myself... so I made her read the ingredients - she never had before and she was a bit surprised. I didn't buy the stuff.

If you are on a budget really I find Supercoat to be more than adequate. You can supplement with chicken necks, wings and other specials in the meat section from time to time. The regular price for Supercoat is usually around $30 for 8 kg but I always get mine on specials at around $18-20. I do mix mine with a premium quality grain free Eartborn Holistic these days, but there was a time when I didnt and my dogs thrived anyway. I have fed other supermarket brands over the years and they have been fine. I do avoid the really cheap brands and generic dog food.

I have never fed the Hills brand for all the reasons people talk about, but I know one dog trainer whose dog had all sorts of allergies and the only food she had good results with was Hills so in the end it comes down to what works for your dog and your budget.

i've bought a bag of eukanuba today and my pup seems to like it, a bit like royal canin. he was a bit hyper afterwards but i'm not sure yet if it was the food.

i'm not sure about whether the quality of the ingredients is all that important anymore. ingredients have a long way to go before it turns into kibble and once it is kibble it's just kibble. i have trouble looking at kibble and telling myself, "yes, this used to be a chicken once." maybe it was but that was a long time ago.

my dog wouldn't even go near holistic select which is by far the most expensive food minus the frozen raw stuff i've given him.

what is important to me is that my dog does not go hyper after eating the food and stool quality. if my dog goes hyper it means there is something in it that is not agreeing with him. also i don't want runny stools or him straining.

i've had the most success with hills science diet so far. he was straining a bit at first but it got better. nice big poos in my backyard. also no episodes of hyperness or at least none straight after a meal.

but i feel bad feeding my dog a cheap supermarket brand despite my previous dog having done very well on it his whole life. i'm really buying into the science/hill's research thing.

if there is a really good grain free kibble that doesn't cost too much i would like to know.

i've bought a bag of eukanuba today and my pup seems to like it, a bit like royal canin. he was a bit hyper afterwards but i'm not sure yet if it was the food.

i'm not sure about whether the quality of the ingredients is all that important anymore. ingredients have a long way to go before it turns into kibble and once it is kibble it's just kibble. i have trouble looking at kibble and telling myself, "yes, this used to be a chicken once." maybe it was but that was a long time ago.

my dog wouldn't even go near holistic select which is by far the most expensive food minus the frozen raw stuff i've given him.

what is important to me is that my dog does not go hyper after eating the food and stool quality. if my dog goes hyper it means there is something in it that is not agreeing with him. also i don't want runny stools or him straining.

i've had the most success with hills science diet so far. he was straining a bit at first but it got better. nice big poos in my backyard. also no episodes of hyperness or at least none straight after a meal.

but i feel bad feeding my dog a cheap supermarket brand despite my previous dog having done very well on it his whole life. i'm really buying into the science/hill's research thing.

if there is a really good grain free kibble that doesn't cost too much i would like to know.

The quality of the ingredients would make a difference. A kibble with a high proportion of good quality meat meal would be more nutritious than one with not much. Same goes for the additives, fillers and fats. Some are better than others.

The Grain Free I use is Earthborn primitive natural or ocean catch. I pay $95 for 12 kg, probably as cheap as it gets.

I dont feel bad about adding Supercoat to the mix which is a supermarket brand. I just feed my dogs what they seem to do well on. A friend of mine found the grain free too high in protein for her dog and it kept shedding its coat en masse. I have also used Nutro natural choice and they did okay on that as well.